Aphek Technical Services

ZDNET's key takeaways

Smart TVs track viewing habits with ACR tech.

Collected data fuels billions in targeted ads.

Turning off ACR protects privacy but takes effort.

How to disable ACR on your TV - and why it makes such a big difference Your Samsung, LG, and even TCL TV comes with risks you should know about. Here's how to avoid one of the biggest.

In the era of smart TVs, convenience rules. With just a few clicks, we can access endless entertainment — but that convenience comes with a catch: cache buildup.

How to clear your TV cache (and why it makes such a big difference) Clearing your TV's cache greatly reduces stuttering and improves performance. Here's how to do it across the most popular brand TVs.

Understanding Your Internet: Bandwidth, Speed, Connectivity

Internet Speed Test Test your internet speed instantly with TestMySpeed, the leading broadband speed test. Get real-time results for download, upload, and ping.

Microsoft shares official ways to save GBs of disk on Windows 11/10 using free native tools.

Interestingly, Microsoft itself also offers its own version of PC optimizer and performance boosting app called the "Microsoft PC Manager" and much like certain third-party apps, it too has had its fair share of critics and for good reasons.

Microsoft shares official ways to save GBs of disk on Windows 11/10 using free native tools Microsoft has shared a helpful guide on how save GBs of disk space on your Windows 10 and/or Windows 11 system.

In January 2026, reports confirmed that Microsoft discontinued phone-based activation, effectively removing the last official method to activate Windows without a direct internet connection. This change impacts Windows 11, Windows 10, and even legacy versions like Windows 7.

Microsoft quietly killed the last way to activate Windows without internet.

This one hits close to home because I installed Smart Tube on mine and all customer streaming devices 😱

The developer of the popular third-party YouTube app SmartTube has confirmed that several official versions released in November 2025 were unintentionally distributed with malware. This occurred after the developer's computer, used to create the app's APK files, was compromised.

https://www.google.com/knowledgegraphshares?smstk=ChhWeXBrSDc2WGhiZ3ZrVUFNTFBGVmNhWT0QAQ%3D%3D&smstidx=0&q=SmartTube+developer+confirms+malware+was+in+recent+versions.&udm=50&csuir=1&aep=34&shndl=37&shmd=H4sIAAAAAAAA_3XNsQ3CMBCFYdIyApVripgUUCC2gN6...

Yes, recent Windows 11 updates are causing various flashing or flickering issues, including white flashes in File Explorer and, previously, a bug that caused screens to turn red. Microsoft has acknowledged these problems and is working on fixes, while temporary workarounds can often resolve the issue.

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update has a flashing bug

Widespread service disruptions reported as major platforms go down worldwide.

Neither Amazon nor other companies affected have issued formal statements as of this report. Some users noted that cloud infrastructure providers like Cloudflare are also showing signs of instability, raising concerns that the disruption may be rooted in a deeper systemic issue.

Widespread service disruptions reported as major platforms go down worldwide Global users report widespread outages across Amazon Web Services, Instagram, Xbox and financial platforms; root cause still unclear as monitoring sites log cascading failures Wednesday evening

A dash of sea salt made this WordPress page pop!

Home - M&M Financial Coaching Corporation Your Financial Coach MIRIAM GRAHAM is expecting you! A BRIEF BACKGROUND I was born in Belize, a beautiful jewel in Central America, in the town of San Ignacio that Belizeans countrywide affectionately know as “the best of the West” located in the Cayo district. I have been a resident of Lake Cou...

Windows 11 just borrowed a great productivity tool from Mac - Neowin

Finder, the stock file manager on macOS, has several handy tools that improve the user experience. One of my favorites is “Quick Look,” a feature that lets you preview a selected file by simply pressing the Spacebar, all without launching the corresponding app. Now, Windows 11 finally has the same thing.

Windows 11 just borrowed a great productivity tool from Mac macOS has a small handy tool that makes previewing files a breeze. At long last, Microsoft stole it for Windows 11.

Windows 11 25H2 Update Bug Breaks Recovery Environment

The October update introduced a serious glitch that makes both the keyboard and mouse stop working inside the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Since WinRE is the toolset that helps fix boot problems and perform system recovery, this bug essentially leaves users without a way to repair their systems if something goes wrong.

Windows 11 25H2 Update Bug Breaks Recovery Environment Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update, version 25H2 (KB5066835), is causing a big headache for users. The October update introduced a serious glitch that makes both the keyboard and mouse stop working inside the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Microsoft adds a long-overdue feature to Windows 11 taskbar in build 27971 - Neowin

Here is the changelog:

[Notification Center]
We are extending the functionality of Notification Center to secondary monitors. This means you will be able to see your calendar on any of your monitors as well as the option to show a bigger clock with seconds above calendar. You will be able to open Notification Center on any monitor by clicking the date and time in the system tray of your taskbar.

Microsoft adds a long-overdue feature to Windows 11 taskbar in build 27971 Microsoft is rolling out a new Windows 11 Canary build with a long-requested taskbar feature and some quality improvements.